In my 60 second documentary, “Everything But Paid”, I documented the struggles and experiences of being a small independent music artist in today’s modern society. I mention all of the roles that every small artist must take on to compete with bigger, successful artists at the very top. The choices that informed my project came from wanting to show what it’s really like to be an independent artist in 2025. I wanted to move past the idea that success in the music industry is based on fame or money, and instead show the side most people don’t see, which is the constant work, the uncertainty, and the emotional toll that comes with trying to make it on your own.
I aimed to document the experience of an independent artist through a participatory mode, using my narration, personal storytelling, and use of original music in the background. I chose my own song not only to highlight my work as an independent artist, but also because it is supposed to represent the feeling of longing and waiting for something — in this case, it is independent artists longing for success in music. People see viral artists and assume they have “made it”, but behind that are millions of others doing the same work, just without luck or enough exposure. That’s the part I wanted my audience to feel.
My project reveals my location as both the storyteller and the subject. I document the experience of a small artist from someone who personally lives these struggles daily, rather than a detached outsider analyzing it. My point of view is that of an artist who loves what they do, but also sees how unfair and exhausting the system can be. By putting myself in the story, I am showing what it means to chase your passion, even without expecting or receiving the most desirable outcome.
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